Door locking system



April 25, 1950 J. G. INGRES ET AL 2,505,401

DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM 7 Filed April 3, 1947 's Sheets-Sheet 1 Q QW 7 April25, 1950 Filed April 5, 1947 PEAR 000,?

J. G. INGRES T AL 2 ,505,401

060R LOCKING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L/. a AVG/F55 0.7. Avses Jr.

April 25, 1950 J. G. mamas ETAL DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed April 3, 1947 MooQ mzxub kkuq k b MJQZQI wins: NE

w \NWU IWI I II Nm I l l l l l n51.

zukacsm Patented Apr. 25, 1950 DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM J cannot G. Ingresand David T. Ayers, J r., Richmond, Va., assignors to Empire ElectricBrake Company, Newark, N. 3., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationApril 3, 1947, Serial No. 739,066

Claims. (01. 18082) This invention relates to a door latch controlmechanism, particularly for use in connection with motor vehicle doorlatches and is an improvement over the systems as shown in our copendingapplications Serial No. 662,870, filed April 17, 1946, now Patent No.2,459,029, granted Jan. 11, 1949, and Serial No. 696,300, filedSeptember 11, 1945, and over the application of David T. Ayers, Jr.,Serial No. 667,924, filed May 7, 1946.

In our co-pending applications referred to, we have provided novelelectrically operated door latching mechanisms wherein opening of any ofthe doors of the vehicle from the inside thereof is possible under anyconditions, even when the doors are locked against outside entrance. Theapparatus employs a door latch mechanism wherein each door latchincludes an element normally arranged in a door-locking position andforming a control element for the latch, such element beingautomatically moved to door- Opening position upon initia1 movement ofone of the outside door handles so that the door may be normally opened.

The control element referred to is moved to door-opening position by theclosing of a normally operable circuit energized upon initial movementof an outside door handle. By a simple push button operation from withinthe vehicle, the operator can render the normally operable electriccircuit incapable of operation upon initial movement of any outside doorhandle. Under such conditions, all doors will be locked from theoutside.

The systems provide the novel features referred to together with meansoperable by an inside door handle for restoring the normal condition ofthe systems when an occupant leaves the front seat of a vehicle. By theuse of such a system, the driver may lock all of the doors againstentrance from the outside, thus protecting himself or herself againstunauthorized entrance into the vehicle, for example by so-called redlight bandits. However, the operation of an inside door handle rendersthe locking system inoperative, and accordingly the driver cannotinadvertently leave the vehicle with the doors locked against outsideentrance. This is an important feature in a system of this charactersinc the operator need not keep in mind the fact that the doors arelocked from the outside when leaving the vehicle since the mere act ofopening the door and leaving the vehicle restores the normal conditionof the system.

In the co-pending application of David T. Ayers, Jr., referred to above,an improvement is provided in the system to prevent the operator frominadvertently leaving the vehicle, setting the locking system andshutting the doors, and leaving the ignition key locked in the vehicle.

There are otherconditions to be considered and protected against, andseveral of such conditions are taken care of with the presentconstruction. For example, it is an important object of the presentinvention to provide a door locking system of the character discussedabove wherein the rear doors of a four-door sedan cannot be opened whilethe vehicle is under way, thus preventing children riding in the rear ofthe vehicle from opening the doors and falling out.

A further object is to provide a locking system of the characterreferred to wherein any of the vehicle doors can be opened from theinside when the vehicle is at rest, and wherein an auxiliary controlmeans is provided which affects only the rear doors of a four-door sedanto prevent any one in the rear compartment, for example children, fromopening the rear doors from the inside while the vehicle is under Way.

A further object is to provide a vehicle door locking system wherein anyof the vehicle doors can be opened from the inside under predeterminedconditions, for example when the vehicle is at rest, and wherein anauxiliary control means is provided which afiects only the rear doors ofa four-door sedan and includes a control switch particularly adapted tobe speed-controlled and thus to be opened when the vehicle is under way,to prevent the opening of the rear doors of the vehicle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description. In the drawings we haveshown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing Figure 1 is aperspective view of a locking mechanism for one of the front doors of amotor vehicle, parts being broken away and certain electricalconnections being diagrammatically shown,

Figure 2 is a similar view of a locking mechanism for one of the reardoors of a four-door sedan,

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical system,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of one of thefront vehicle doors showing the preferred location of the push buttonsoperable for locking the doors, and

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

As will become apparent, the locking mechanisms for the front and reardoors of a four-door sedan are quite similar and where identical partsare employed, they will be designated by the same reference numerals. Italso will become apparent that while the invention has been particularlyillustrated and described as applied to door looking mechanisms of thepositive lock type, it is equally applicable to door locks of theso-called free wheeling type.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral I0 a pin 28 carried by theplate portion l2.

designates a door-carried latch plate as a whole bent at an angle toform portions ii and I2 extending longitudinally and transversely,respectively, of the motor vehicle. The plate I? is flush with the freeedge of the door, as will be apparent, while the plate I I liestowardthe. inner face of the door. The present device is illustrated inassociation with a conventional type of rotary door lock. Such lock orlatch means is now shown, but its construction is conventional as statedand is adapted to be rotated by a stepby-step movement to successivelooking positions by the turning of a shaft i3 by a wheel [4 lyingagainst the inner face of the plate portion I2 The wheel M has aplurality of flat faces l6 each of which has an end I? projecting beyondthe plane of the next adjacent face H5. Successive faces iii areengageable by the extremity of one arm #8 of abell crank lever l9iournaled on The other arm 21 of the bell crank lever is operable in-amanner to-be described, such arm projecting toward and'terminatingadjacent the plate portion I l in accordance with conventional practicein certain types of motor vehicles. A leaf spring '22 urges the bellcrank lever 18 to turn in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed inFigure- 1 to its limit of movement, as shown.

A vertically movable plate 25 is provided with a slot 26 in which isslidable a pin 27 fixed to the plate portion ll. Adjacent its lower end,the plate 25-is reduced in size and slides in a guide 28', and the plate2-5 is urged upwardly by a leaf spring Zsengaging the lower end of theplate 25 and having oneend anchored to the plate portion H.

The conventional outside door handle, indi- 'C2itd; in dotted lines bythe numeral 32, is carried by a shaft 33 extending into the door fromthe outside thereof and having its inner end journaled in the plate H bymeans of a suitable extension 34 in accordance with conventionalpractice. The shaft 33 carries a crank arm 35 engageable with aninwardly extending lip 35 on the plate 25, and such plate is providedwith an additional lip 3-? engageable with the top of the lever arm 2i.It will be apparent that rotation of the shaft 33 in the direction ofthe arrow will cause the arm 35 to tend to move the plate 25 downwardlyand, transmit movement through lip 31 to the bellcrank lever 19 to freethe arm l8 thereof from the wheel Hi. Under such conditions, the latchis free to turn upon the pulling of the door handle 32 to open the door,the wheel 14 7 advancing one step so that, upon releasing of the partsreferred to, the lower end of the leverarm 1% will swing downwardly intoengagement with the next adjacent face l6.

As previously stated, the present device is particularly adapted for usewith a door locking mechanism of the type wherein the handle 32 isimmovable when the door is locked. For this purpose, the plate 25 isprovided with a shoulder 38 engageable with the upper end of a normallyThe other arm 42 of the Each lever arm 42 is pivoted as at 44' to theupper end of a depending link 4'5 the other end "of" which is connectedto the: armature 46 of a solenoid 47. Upon energization of' thissolenoid, the lever armsil will swing in a clockwise direcditionsi tionas viewed in Figure 1, thus moving the upper end of the arm 39 frombeneath the shoulder 38 to permit a door-unlocking movement of thehandle 32. One terminal of the solenoid 4'. is grounded as at 58, andthe other terminal is connected to one end of a wire 49.

A control switch indicated as a whole by the numeral 58 is arrangedabove the plate 25. The wire G9 is connected to one terminal of theswitch 5! and the other terminal of such switch is connected to a wire52 the circuit of which will be described later. The switch 5i isprovided with an operating button 53 engaged by a vertical projection 54carried by the plate 25. The projection 54 normally holds the button 53in its upper position, under which conditions the switch 5! is open.Under such conditions, the circuit for the solenoid ll will normally bebroken and the bell crank lever fill will remain in the position shownin Figure l.

The pin 2i pivotally supports a lever 536 having a projection 51overlying the lever arm 2 l Rotation of the lever 58 in acounter-clockwise direction will cause the end 57 thereof to swing thelever arm 2i downwardly in the same manner as this operation isperformed by the lip 31.

The lever 53 is pivotally connected at 58 to a link 59, and the otherend of this link is connected at (ill to a crank arm 6 l. Such crank armrotatable relative to a supporting plate 62 and is urged to turn in acounterclockwise direction to its normal position shown in Figure 1 by aleaf spring 63. The crank 6| is operable by a shaft 61 to which isconnected the usual inside door handle indicated in dottedlines by thenumeral In the mechanism shown in our co-pending application, Serial No.696,300, referred to above, the lever 53 is free to rock in acounter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1 under all conditions.For reasons which will be referred to later, it is desirable to renderthe inside door handle 65 of the rear vehicle doors inoperative foropening such doors under predetermined con- In the present construction,therefore, the lever 56 of each rear door is provided with a projection66 (Figure 2) normally arranged beneath a laterally projecting lug 6?carried by the upper end of the lever arm 39'. Accordingly the upper endportion of such lever arm normally prevents substantial downwardmovement of the lever 25 and upward movement of the shoulder orprojection 56 of the lever 55.

Referring to Figure 4, a portion of one of the front vehicle doors isillustrated and is designated by the numeral 68'. This door has theusual Window 69 having a lower sill 7E and with each front door 68 thereis associated a switch H having a push button 12 projecting upwardlythrough the sill 10.

The plate portion l and other portions (not shown) of each front doorrotatably support a shaft 13, provided adjacent its outer end with theusual door key-controlled lock (not shown). A cam 14 is carried by theshaft 13 and engages one arm 15 of a bell crank lever 16 pivoted to theplate portion I! by a pin H. The other arm 78 of the lever I6 isconnected by a link it with the lever 58 through a slot and pinconnection Bil-BI. The lever arm i8 is adapted to operate the pushbutton 82 of a switch 83, the switch being normally held in openposition as will become apparent. One terminal of the switch 83 isgrounded as at 84- and the other terminal is connected by a wire 85 tobereferred to later,

.one of the solenoids M and 92.

switch is grounded at I12.

r A link 86 is pivoted to the pin 11 and to the link 45 as at 86, and asmall pin 16', carried by the lever 16, limits turning movement of thelever 16 in a clockwise direction relative to link 89. It will becomeapparent that upon rotation of the lever 16 in a clockwise direction bythe cam 14 upon a key-operated turning movement of the shaft 13, thelever arm 18 will close the switch 83 and will also move the link 99downwardly. This transmits downward movement to the link 45,independently of energization of the solenoid 41, to move the lever end39 to inoperative position. This .is important if the vehicle batteryshould be dead when the operator attempts to enter the vehicle.

It will be apparent that energization of the solenoid 41 of any door isnecessary in the opening thereof by the associated outside door handle32. The inside handle 95 of either front door can open such door throughmovement of the lever 56. However, the projection 99 of the lever 58 ofeach rear door prevents manual operation thereof by an inside handle.Each such handle therefor must control the associated solenoid 41. Tothis end a switch 81 is operable by each inside rear door handle 65, theextended lower end of the associated lever 6| holding the button 99 ofsuch switch normally in open position. One terminal of each switch 81 isconnected as at 99 to the associated wire 49, and the other terminalwill be referred to later.

The wiring system for the mechanism is shown diagrammatically in Figure3 and the mechanism associated with each individual door has beenenclosed within a dotted line rectangle designated by suitable legendsto indicate the respective doors. Referring to Figure 3, numeral 99indicates as a whole the master switch through which the locking andunlocking functions of the apparatus are controlled. This master switchmay be located at any desired inaccessible and invisible point in thevehicle, for example, behind the instrument panel, and is suitablyhoused. The master switch comprises a pair of solenoids 9| and 92respectively provided with armatures 93 and 94 connected to a switchlever 99 pivoted intermediate the armatures as at 96. The lever 95 isprovided with a projected end 91 to which is connected an over-centerspring 98 for holding the lever 95 in. either of its two positions to bereferred to. A lateral projection 99 on the lever 95 is engageable witha switch arm I99 whereby, upon energization of the solenoid 92, suchswitch arm will be moved into engagement with a stationary contact I9I Asource of current, such as the vehicle battery, is indicated by thenumeral I92, and has one term nal grounded as at I 93. A main supplywire I94 is connected to the other terminal of the battery and isprovided with branches I95 and I96 each of which is connected to oneterminal of The wire I94 leads to the stationary contact I9 I.

The second terminal of the solenoid 91 is connected to one end of a wireI91 in which is arranged an ignition key controlled switch to bereferred to later. Beyond such switch the wire I91 branches as at I98for connection with stationary contacts I99 arranged in the switches 1I.Each of these switches includes an arm H9 normally held out ofengagement with its contact I99 by a spring III and movable intoengagement therewith by operation of the associated push button 12. Thearm III! of each push button The second terminal of the solenoid 92 isconnected to one end of a wire II5 which leads through the wires to theswitch arms I I1 in the respective key-operated switches 83. Each ofthese switch arms is normally out of engagement with an associatedstationary contact H9 and is held in normal position by a spring H9.Each switch arm H1 is provided with one of the operating buttons 82engageable by the lever 18 (Figure 1) to close the switch upon operationof the associated key-operated shaft 13 (Figure 1). Each stationarycontact H9 is connected to one of the grounds 84.

The switch arm I99 of the master switch is connected to one end of awire I25 and this wire is provided with four branches I26. Each of thesebranches leads to a stationary contact I21 in each of the switches 5I.Each switch BI is provided with a switch arm I29 engageable with theassociated contact 21 and urged into engagement therewith by a springI29. Each switch arm I28 is provided with an operating button or thelike 53 normally engaged by the extension 54 (Figure 1) to normally keepthe switch arms I28 in open position. Each switch arm I29 is connectedby one of the wires 49 to one terminal of the associated solenoid 41,and the other terminal of each of these solenoids is grounded as at 99,as previously stated.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be noted that the system is provided witha control switch indicated as a whole by the numeral I59 in series withthe locking solenoid 9|. This switch may be conveniently connected inthe wire I91 and comprises a stationary contact I5I and a switch arm I52iased to closed position by a spring I53. The switch arm I52, being inseries with the locking solenoid 9|, it is obvious that this solenoidcannot be energized by closing one of the switches II if the switch I52is open.

The switch I59 is associated with the ignition lock indicated as a wholeby the numeral I55. This lock comprises the usual body I59 having abarrel I51 therein in which the ignition key I58 is insertable. This keyis provided with the usual notches for operating the tumbler pins ofconventional type all but one set of which are indicated by the numeralI59. These tumbler pins are all biased to locking position by springsI69. In accordance with the usual practice each set of tumbler pins isin two parts and the abutting ends of these pins coincide with thecylindrical surface of the barrel I5? when the key is in the lock, thuspermitting the barrel I51 to be rotated.

In the present invention, an additional set of tumbler pins is provided,the inner one being indicated by the numeral 599 and the outer one bythe numeral I65. The abutting ends of these two pins coincide with thesurface of the tumbler I51 when the key is inserted in the look, as istrue of the other tumbler pins referred to. The spring I53, associatedwith the switch I52, urges the tumbler pin I inwardly, and when the keyis inserted in the lock, the pins I59 and I65 move to open the switchI52, this being the condition illustrated in Figure 3. It will beobvious, therefore, that with the key I 58 in the ignition lock and inthe off position illustrated in Figure 3, the locking solenoid 9I cannotbe energized and the vehicle doors accordingly cannot be locked.

Referring to Figure 5 it will be noted that the barrel I51, in thetransverse plane of the pin I94, is cut away as at I18 to provide a cam.To turn I on the ignition, the operator will rotate the key 'SWitch I86.

7. ma counterclockwise directionas viewed in Fi ure 5, in which case thepin I 64 will be turned angu-Iarly toward the left out of alignment withthe pin I65, and when the ignition switch reaches the on position, thelower end of the pin I65 will rest in the lowermost portion of the camgroove I18. In this position of the pin IE5, the switch I52 will beclosed and the operator can energize the locking solenoid 9| in themanner described in detail below.

In the locking systems of the co-pending applications referred to above,it is possible under any conditions to open any door of the vehicle fromthe inside. Accordingly, it is dangerous to carry small children in theback of a fourdoor sedan, and serious and often fatal accidents haveoccurred under such conditions through children opening the rear doorsand falling from the vehicle. The present construction provides novelmeans for preventing the rear doors of a four-door sedan from beingopened when the vehicle is in motion, such means being wholly beyond thecontrol of any one in the rear of a vehicle and positively preventing achild, for example, from opening either rear door.

As previously stated, each rear door is provided with one of theswitches 81 and one terminal of'such switch is connected by the wire 89to the associated wire 49 and solenoid 41. Each switch 37 includes aswitch arm I15 engageable with a contact I16 and normally held out ofengagement therewith by engagement with the adjacent end of theassociated lever i (Figure 2). A spring I'II urges each switch arm I toclosed position.

The other terminal of each switch 81 is associated with the contact I15thereof and connects to a wire I18, as shown in Figure 3. The

wires I18 of the two rear doors are connected to a supply wire I19 inwhich is arranged a toggle This switch is preferably arranged onthe-dash of the vehicle or any other suitable point readily accessibleto the driver but inaccessible to any one in the rear of a fourdoorsedan.

From the toggle switch I80 the wire I19 leads to a contact I83 normallyengaged by one arm I84 of a switch I85 and engageable under conditionsto be referred to by a second arm I85 on such switch. The switch arm I85is connected to the contact I81 of a governor switch I88. This switchmay be operated by any suitable type of vehicle speed responsivegovernor, as will be apparent. The governor switch is connected by awire I89 to one terminal of a solenoid Isa having its other terminalgrounded as at ISI. The solenoid we is provided with an armature I92connected to the switch I 85.

The governor switch I88 is connected by a wire I95 to a switch I95 whichmay be the ignition switch, or an accessory control switch operable withthe ignition switch. The switch I96 is engageable with a contact I9!connected to a wire I98. This wire is connected to an extension of thewire I04, and a second branch of the latter wire, indicated by thenumeral I99, leads to the switch arm I84.

Operation .closed through thesolenoids 4.! exceptatthe respectiveswitches 5i. These switches,"being norswam s mally open, no currentnormally flows through the solenoids 41.

Assuming that the operator desires to enter the vehicle under suchconditions, he will turn one of the door handles 32', thus rotating theassociated shaft 33 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1. Thecrank arm 35 will be turned in the same direction and will engage thelip 36 to move the plate 25 downwardly. The shoulder 38 is normallyspaced from the upper end of the lever arm 39, (39" in Figure 2) andduring initial downward movement of the plate 25 and before the shoulder38 contacts the lever arm 39, (or 39) the projection 54 will release theswitch button 53 and the associated switch arm I28 (Figure 3) will moveinto engagement with the corresponding contact 527.

This action completes a circuit from source I82 through wires Hit and25, thence through the wire I26 of the switch 5'5 thus operated, andthrough the associated solenoid it? and back to the source through thegrounds #8 and I03. En ergization of the solenoid ll pulls the link 45(Figure 1) downwardly and rocks the bell crank lever Ali) to move theupper end of the arm 39 thereof from beneath the shoulder 38.

Continued turning movement of the door handle 32 will effect furtherdownward movement of the plate 25 and the lip 31 thereof will effectdownward movement of the lever arm 2| to swing the bell crank lever isin-a clockwise direction. This elevates thelever arm I8 from contactwith the wheel i4, whereupon theoperator may pull the handleti to openthe door. Upon the releasing of the door handle, the parts de scribedreturn to normal position, the switch 5I again being opened todeenergize the solenoid 4'! and the levers l9 and 35 being returned tonormal positions with the lower end of the lever arm I8 engaging thenext successive face I6 of the wheel I4.

It will be apparent that the solenoids 47 are all in parallel circuitswhich, in turn, are in series with the master switch Hill, and if thelatter switch is open, none of the solenoids 41 can be energized. Theswitch I09 is opened when the doors are to be locked. The operator needonly momentarily depress a button I2 (Figures 3 and 4) to lock the car,regardless of whetherhe remains in the vehicle or is leaving it.Operation of the push button I2 of either front door will close theassociated switch I I E) (Figure 3) whereupon the current will flow fromsource I02 through Wires I64 and E55, locking solenoid 9|, wire I07(assuming switch 552 tobe closed) and through the proper branch wireI68, thence through the closed switch arm II!) and back to the sourcethrough grounds H2 and I 63. Energization of the locking solenoid 9|obviously swings the lever and the switch IIJE) opens.

Under such conditions, no circuit can be completed to any solenoid 4!upon operation of an outside door handle'32. If an attempt is made toopen a door by turning a handle 32, the swinging of the crank arm 35(Figures 1 or 2) will move the plate 25 downwardly and release theswitch button 53 to close the switch arm in the associated switch 5LHowever, the solenoid 4'! will not be energized and the bell crank lever40 will remain in its normal position. The lever arm 39 (or 39') willthen act as a stop for the plate 25 by engaging the shoulder 38, andaccordingly the bell crank lever I9 cannot be swung sufficiently torelease the wheel I4. Accordingly the door cannot be opened.

When the operator desires to reenter the vehicle, he will insert the keyin the door look (not shown) and will rotate the key to turn the shaft13 in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1. The cam 14 will engage thelever arm 15 to turn the bell crank lever I6 in a clockwise direction inFigure 1. Two operations will be performed un der such conditions. Thepin l6, engaging the link 86, will swing the right hand end of thislever downwardly to transmit downward movement to the link 45 and swingthe bell crank lever 40 to the unlocking position in exactly the samemanner as if the solenoid 41 were energized. In addition, the lever 18,engaging the switch button 82, will swing the switch arm Ill (Figure 3)to closed position.

Under the conditions referred to current will flow from the source I02,through Wires I04 and IE6, unlocking solenoid 92, wire II5, through theproper wire 85 and through the operated switch arm Ill and back to thesource through contact H3 and rounds 84 and I03. The solenoid 92 will beenergized to swing the lever 95 in a clockwise direction to close theswitch I00. Accordingly all of the solenoids 47 will again beconditioned for normal operation. The over-center spring 98 obviouslyholds the lever 95 in either of its positions, thus rendering itunnecessary to maintain either solenoid 9! or 92 energized, a mereinstantaneous energization of either such solenoid being all that isnecessary to set the master switch I in either position.

The system having been thus placed in unlocked condition, the operatormay open either door by the previously described operation of an outsidedoor handle 32. As previously stated, an unlocking operation of the doorkey manually swings the lever it to its unlocking position. Thisoperation is of importance only if the battery has become dead duringthe drivers absence. Ordinarily, the driver can turn the key to anunlocking position, and then reverse the rotation of the key and removeit, and the door will be opened in the usual manner. If the battery isdead, the operator nevertheless can enter the vehicle merely by holdingthe key in an unlocking position to manually hold the lever arm 39 outof position beneath the shoulder 38, whereupon the door handle 32 may berotated to release the wheel It for the purpose stated.

It will be apparent that under normal conditions with the doorsunlocked, the operator may stop the vehicle and leave the vehicle byoperation of either inside front door handle 65. This operation will becarried out regardless of whether the master switch is in locked orunlocked position. By turning an inside front door handle 65 to rotatethe shaft 54 (Figure 1) in the direction of the arrow, the crank 6| willpull the link 59 to swing the lever plate 55 in a counter-clockwisedirection as viewed in Figure 1. The projection 5? will swing the leverarm 2! downwardly in exactly the same manner as this operation isperformed by the lip 3'! upon an operation of an outside door handle.The projection 51 and lip 31 are operable wholly independently of eachother as means for effecting an unlatching swinging movement of theassociated bell crank lever I9.

Assuming that the driver desires to lock himself or herself in thevehicle against unlawful entrance thereinto, for example by a so-calledred light bandit, the operator need only depress the'push button 12 toaccomplish the locking operation previously described, and under 10 suchconditions the vehicle cannot be entered without the possession andoperation of a door key.

However, the mechanism is operative for preventing the driver fromlooking the car from the inside and then leaving the vehicle with thedoors inadvertently locked. Assuming that the push button 12 has beenoperated by the driver to open the master switch I88 and the driver withthe parts so conditioned stops the vehicle and leaves it, he will openthe door adjacent the drivers seat by the operation of the adjacentindoor handle 65, as described. This operation not only moves the leverI9 to a door unlocking position, but the swinging of the lever plate 56for effecting this operation causes the pin 8| to effect downwardmovement of the link 19. Whenever an inside door handle is operated,therefore, the lever I8 will be operated in exactly the same manner asby a key-operated turning movement of the shaft 13. The lever I8 willoperate the associated switch 33 to close the switch arm Ill thereof andthus energize the unlocking solenoid 92 in the manner described, toclose the master switch I00. Thus, if the car doors are locked with thedriver inside, the simple conventional operation of an inside front doorhandle when the driver leaves the vehicle will restore the normalcondition of all of the parts of the mechanism, thus preventing aninadvertent locking of the doors. The slot 30 is provided in the link 19to permit free downward movement of the link '89 by the lever 18 whenthe latter is operated by the key-controlled shaft I3, as will beobvious.

The foregoing operation, so far as it concerns the circuits for thefront door push buttons l2, assumes the switch I52 (Figure 3) to beclosed. This switch and its operating means prevents the operator frominadvertently locking the car with the key in the ignition switch. Whenthe ignition key I58 is turned on, the pin I64 (Figure 5) will bearranged in the bottom of the groove I18, thus permitting the biasingspring I53 to hold the switch I52 closed. When the ignition switch keyis turned off and the key is removed, the pin I64 will occupy the samelower position. Under either of the conditions referred to the switchI52 will be closed, and energization of the locking solenoid ill will besolely under the control af the push buttons 12. With the key H58 in theignition switch and turned off, the pin I64 will be in an elevatedposition to open the switch I52 and thus prevent the closing of eitherpush button circuit, and consequently the closing of a circuit throughthe locking solenoid 9! Accordingly the operator cannot turn off theignition, leave the key in position and lock the car.

The principal feature of the present combination of elements isprimarily intended to insure the safety of children riding in the rearcompartment of a four-door sedan. As is well known, children riding inthe rear of a sedan may open one of the rear doors, and many childrenhave been injured and killed in such way. This is a source of particulardanger in motor vehicles in which the rear doors swing out from theforward ends thereof, as is well known.

The toggle switch I is located at a point convenient to the operator andmay be opened or closed at the election of the operator for the reasonsto be described. Normally, the toggle switch I88 will be closed as shownin Figure 3. It is essential that the circuit in which the toggle switchis arranged be subject to energization solely by one of the rear insidedoor handle switches 51 when the car is at rest. Acc ordingly'thecircuit including the switches I35, I88 and I98 and as; .sociatedelements are employed.

The governor switch Iii'l'is closed as shown in Figure 3 when the car isat rest. With the toggle switch I86 closed, a person in the rearcompartment of a four-door sedan can then open either rear door from theinsideby operation of one 9f the rear inside door handles 55. Theturning of; such handle in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2releases the associated switch H5 for movement to closed position. Undersuch circumstances, current will flow from the battery 562 through wiresI84 and I99, through switch arm I84 and contact I 83, through wire I19and the toggle switch I59, thence through one of the wires IE8 and theoperated switch I15, and through wire 89, the associated solenoid 4i andback to the source through grounds t8 and M33.

lever kit of either front door latch mechanism is necessary since suchlever is freely movable at all times withQut energization of thesolenoid associated therewith. Only the rear inside door handles operatetheir associated solenoids-(ll, and

this operation is provided so that there'ar doors can be locked from theinside. when desired.

The operation just described with relation to the opening of one of therear doors from the inside assumes that the, ignition key is not inoperative position and not turned on. Under such conditions, the toggleswitch circuit is completed acrosscontact I83 and switch arm I84. Adifferent operation takes place with the vehicle standing' st ll withthe engine running. Under such conditions, the ignition switch I96(which may bean accessory control switch governed by the ignitionswitch) will be closed and current will flow through wires I04 and I98to contact I91, through switch arm I95 and wires I95 and I 89 to thesolenoid Si! and thence back to the source through grounds I9! and H13.Under such conditions' the solenoid 599 will be energized and itsarmature I92 will move the switch I85 to disconnectthe switch arm I84from the contact I83 and connectthe latter to the switch arm I86.

Under such conditions, current through the toggle switch circuit willflow through wires I04 and I38, switch I95, wire I95, governor switchI88, contact I81, switch arm I86and contact I 83, and'thence through theremainder of the toggle switch circuit through wire I19 in the mannerpreviously described.

Under either of the previously described two conditions, therefore,either inside rear door handle is operable to energize its associatedsolenoid 4 1 to release the corresponding door latch mechanism to permitone of the rear doors to be opened. The alternative circuits for thetoggle switch as described above are provided so that the toggle switchcircuit may be energized by either inside door handle when the vehicleis at .20 The foregoing operation of one of the inside rest, regardlessof whether the engine is running 7 maintain the toggle switch circuitclosed up to the insidedqor handle switches 81.

it will be apparent that whenever the engine is running, energization ofeither rear door solenoid 41 is dependent upon the positioning of thegovernor switch in closed position. When the vehicle is started andreaches a predetermined relatively low speed, for example ten miles perhour, the governor switch will be opened and will remain open untildeceleration of the vehicle again reaches such predetermined speed.Therefore, whenever the vehicle is running at a speed above thepredetermined speed referred to, the toggle switch circuit for eitherrear door cannot be closed by operation of the inside door handlethereof. Either switch 8'! can be closed, but the circuit for theassociated solenoid 41 will be broken at the governor switch I88.

'As stated, the rear door latches cannot be opened except by energizingthe associated solenoids 41. Accordingly when the vehicle is in motionand traveling above a predetermined relatively low speed, no one in therear seat can open either rear door. This is a highly important safetyfeature, as will be obvious. A very large percentage of two-door sedansare sold to people who customarily carry small children in the back seatand they prefer two-door sedans since children in the backseat cannotreadily gain access to the inside door handles of the two doors. Thepresent invention renders it wholly practicable to carry children in theback seat of a four-door sedan, and they are carried in perfect safetyso far as opening the rear doors is concerned without any thought on thepart of the operator. The operation described is wholly automatic andthe operator need not concern himself in any manner with children ridingin the back or a four-door sedan.

All present four-door sedans, of course, are provided with individualdoor locks, and in some types of such locks opening of the rear doorscannot be accomplished by operation of the inside handles. However,children have access to the locking means and after having observed theoperation of such means can readily unlock and then open one of the reardoors. The present construction not only positively prevents accidentsfrom occurring in the manner stated, but requires no attention whateveron the part of the operator.

The toggle switch I88 is provided so that the operator can prevent therear doors from being opened under any circumstances. For example, anoperator maydesire to leave his vehicle for a few minutes with smallchildren in the back of the car without locking the front doors, andunder'such conditions, the operator may open the toggle switch I80, thuspreventing the closing of the circuit for either rear door solenoid byoperation of the associated inside door handle.

The present construction not only provides complete safety for childrentraveling in the back seat of a four-door sedan, but it also renders itpracticable for people who customarily carry children in motor vehiclesto purchase four-door sedans instead of tWO'jdOOI' sedans. Many twodoorsedans are purchased by, people who greatly prefer four-door sedans butdo not buy them because of the factor ofdanger of carrying children inthe rear seats.

We claim:

1. In a door locking mechanism wherein the door is provided with alatch, and means for operating the latch to release it comprising afirst handleat one side of the door, a locking device biased to a normalposition in which said first handle is inoperative for moving saidlatch, means operable upon initial operation of said first handle formoving said locking member out of said normal position to render saidfirst handle operative for releasing said latch, a second handle forsaid latch at the opposite side of said door, operating means fortransmitting movement of said second handle to said latch to open it,and means operative under predetermined conditions for rendering saidoperating means inoperative by said second handle for opening the latch.

2. In a door locking mechanism wherein the door is provided with alatch, and means for operating the latch to release it comprising afirst handle at one side of the door, a locking device biased to anormal position in which said first handle is inoperative for movingsaid latch, means operable upon initial operation of said first handlefor moving said locking member out of said normal position to rendersaid first handle operative for releasing said latch, a second handlefor said latch at the opposite side of said door, normally inoperativeoperating means between said second handle and said latch, control meansassociated with said operating means for predetermining theoperativeness of said operating means, and means for operating saidcontrol means for rendering said operating means inefiective foroperating the latch upon movement of said second handle.

3. In a locking mechanism for a vehicle door wherein the door isprovided with a latch, and means for operating the latch to release itcomprising an outside door handle, an inside door handle, normallyinoperative operating connections between said inside door handle andthe latch for releasing the latter upon operation of said inside doorhandle, a control device for said operating connections, and meansresponsive to movement of the vehicle above a predetermined speed forcontrolling the operation of said control device to render the lattereffective for preventing said operating connections from transmittingmovement from said inside door handle to the latch.

4. In a vehicle door locking mechanism wherein the door is provided witha latch, and means for operating the latch to release it comprising anoutside door handle, an inside door handle, operating connectionsbetween said inside door handle and the latch to efiect a releasingmovement of the latch upon operation of said inside door handle, amember biased to an operative position controlling said operatingconnections to prevent the latter from transmitting latch-releasingmovement from said inside door handle to the latch, means for movingsaid member to a second position in which said operating connections areoperative for transmitting movement from said inside door handle to thelatch, and means responsive to movement of the vehicle at apredetermined speed for preventing operation of said last-named meanswhereby said member remains in its said biased position.

i 5. In a vehicle door locking mechanism wherein the door is providedwith a latch, and means for operating the latch to release it comprisingan outside door handle, an inside door handle, operating connectionsbetween said inside door handle and the latch to efiect areleasingmovement of the latch upon operation of said inside 14 door handle, amember biased to an operative position controlling said operatingconnections to prevent the latter from transmitting latchreleasingmovement from said inside door handle to the latch, means operative uponinitial movement of said inside door handle for moving said member to asecond position in which said operating connections are free to transmitfurther movement of said inside door handle to said latch to release it,and means responsive to movement of the vehicle for preventing operationof said last-named means whereby said member remains in its said biasedposition.

6. In a vehicle door locking mechanism wherein the door is provided witha latch, and means for operating the latch to release it comprising anoutside door handle, an inside door handle, operating connectionsbetween said inside door handle and the latch to effect a releasingmovement of the latch upon operation of said inside door handle, amember biased to an operative position controlling said operatingconnections to prevent the latter from transmitting latchreleasingmovement from said inside door handle to the latch, a solenoidenergizable for moving said member to a second position in which saidoperating connections are free to transmit movement from said insidedoor handle to the latch to release it, a circuit for said solenoidincluding a switch movable to closed position upon initial movement ofsaid inside door handle, and means responsive to movement of the vehiclefor preventing said switch from closing said circuit whereby said memberremains in its said biased position.

'7. In a vehicle door locking mechanism wherein the door is providedwith a latch, and means for operating the latch to release it comprisingan outside door handle, an inside door handle, operating connectionsbetween said inside door handle and the latch to effect a releasingmovement of the latch upon operation of said inside door handle, amember biased to an operative position controlling said operatingconnections to prevent the latter from transmitting latch-releasingmovement from said inside door handle to the latch, a solenoidenergizable for moving said member to a second position in which saidoperating connections are free to transmit movement from said insidedoor handle to the latch to release it, a circuit for said solenoidincluding a switch movable to closed position upon initial movement ofsaid inside door handle, means responsive to movement of the vehicle forpreventing said switch from closing said circuit whereby said memberremains in its said biased position, and a manually op-= erable switchin said circuit for overruling said switch and said movement responsivemeans whereby, when it is open, said manually operable switch willprevent the closing of said circuit and said member will remain in itssaid biased position.

8. In a vehicle door locking mechanism wherein the door is provided witha latch, and means for operating the latch to release it comprising aninside door handle and an outside door handle, a locking member biasedto a normal position rendering either door handle ineffective forreleasing the latch, means operative upon initial movement of eitherdoor handle for moving said locking member to a second position in whichsuch handle is effective for releasing the latch, control means forpreventing movement of said locking member to said second position uponop- 1E erationoi the outsidedoor handle, and. independ: ently oper lemeans for preventin movement of said locking member to said secondposition upon movement of said inside door handle.

9. In a vehicle door locking mechanism wherein the door is provided witha latch, and means for operating the latch to release it comprising aninside door handle and an outside door handle, a locking member biasedto a normal position rendering either doorhandle ineffective forreleasing the latch, means operative upon initial movement of eitherdoor handle for moving said locking member to a second position in whichsuch handle is effective for releasing the latch, control means forpreventing movement of said locking member to said second position uponoperation of the outside door handle, and means responsive to movementof the vehicle and operative independently of said control means forpreventing movement of said locking member to said second position uponmovement of said inside door handle.

10. In a vehicle door locking mechanism wherein the door is providedwith a latch, and means for operating the latch to release it comprisingan outside door handle and an inside door handle, a locking memberbiased to a normal position rendering either door handle ineffective forreleasing the latch, an electro-magnetic device energizable for movingsaid locking member out of said normal position to render either doorhandle operative for releasing said latch, circuit means for saidelectro-magnetic device including a switch operable by initial movementof the out side door handle to energize said electro-magnetic device,means for preventing the closing of said circuit means to render theoutside door handle ineffective for releasing the latch, a secondcircuit means for said electro-magnetic device including a switchoperable by the inside door handle'to energize said electro-magneticdevice and render the inside door handle operative for releasing thelatch, and means responsive to movement of the vehicle for preventingenergization of said electro-magnetic device by the closing of saidlast-named switch.

11. In a vehicle door locking mechanism wherein the door is providedwith a latch, and means for operating the latch to release it comprisingan outside door handle and an inside door handle, a locking memberbiased to 9. normal position rendering either door handle ineffectivefor releasing the latch, an electro-magnetic device energizable formoving said locking member out of said normal position to render eitherdoor handle operative for releasing said latch, circuit means for saidelectro-magnetic device including a switch operable by initialmovementpi the outside door handle to energize said electro-magneticdevice, means for preventing the closing of said circuit means to renderthe outside door handle ineffective for releasing the latch, a secondcircuit means for said electromagnetic device including a switchoperable by the inside door handle to energize said electromagneticdevice and render the inside door handle operative for releasing thelatch, means responsive to movement of the vehicle for preventingenergization of said electro-magnetic device by the closing of saidlast-named switch, and a manually operable switch in said second circuitmeans for overruling said vehicle movement-re- V sponsive means and theswitch in said second circuit means. whereby, when said manually op- 16erable switch is open, the inside door handle is ineffective forreleasing said latch.

12-. In a vehicle door locking mechanism wherein the door is providedwith a latch and means for operating the latch to release it comprisingan inside door handle, normally inoperative means for transmittingmovement from said door handle to said latch for releasing it, controlmeans operative upon initial movement of the door handle for renderingsaid normally inoperative means operative for releasing the latch uponfurther movement of the door handle, and means responsive to motion ofthe vehicle for rendering said control means inoperative for affectingsaid normally inoperative means.

13. In a vehicle door locking mechanism wherein the door is providedwith a latch and means for operating the latch to release it comprisingan inside door handle, normally inoperative means for transmittingmovement from said door handle to said latch for releasing it, controlmeans operative upon initial movement of the door handle for renderingsaid normally inoperative means operative for releasing the latch uponfurther movement of the door handle, means responsive to motion of thevehicle for rendering said control means inoperative for affecting saidnormally inoperative means, and manual means for rendering said controlmeans ineffective under any conditions for controlling said normallyinoperative means, to prevent said mot-ion transmitting means fromopening said latch upon operation of said door handle.

14. In a vehicle door locking mechanism wherein the door is providedwith a latch, and an inside door handle for operating the latch,normally inoperative motion transmitting means connected between thedoor handle and the latch, means comprising a solenoid energizable uponinitial movement of the door handle for rendering said motiontransmitting means operative for opening the latch upon further movementof the door handle, and means operative in response to motion of thevehicle above a predetermined speed for preventing energization of saidsolenoid.

15. In a vehicle door locking mechanism wherein the door is providedwith a latch, and an inside door handle for operating the latch,normally inoperative motion transmitting means connected between thedoor handle and the latch, means comprising a solenoid energizable uponinitial movement of the door handle for rendering said motiontransmitting means operative for opening the latch upon further movementof the door i handle, means operative in response to motion of thevehicle above a predetermined speed for preventing energization of saidsolenoid, and manual means operable for preventing said motiorrresponsive means from rendering said solenoid energizable under anyconditions.

JEANNOT G. INGRES. DAVID T. AYERS, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

